Today is Monday, so this post is on self confidence.
Optimism is a key ingredient for self confidence. High scores on optimism tend to be predictive of success in everything from sports to health, elections and sales. For example, Met Life salespeople who scored high on optimism sold 27% more in their first year than their peers who scored low. American Express Financial Advisors found that optimism training helped increase sales.
Optimists are more resistant to infectious disease and are better at fending off the chronic diseases that come with middle age. Data from cancer patients show a definite association between pessimism and mortality.
The other day, I found a unique perspective on self confidence and optimism. I was reading the March, April issue of Harvard Magazine and came across a letter to the editor from Salvatore R. Maddi PhD, Professor of Psychology and Social Ecology,
He has developed a measure of courage that he calls “hardiness”. According to Dr. Maddi, hardiness is a combination of three factors “commitment, control and challenge”. His research suggests that these three factors facilitate growth under stress.
He goes on to say: “One study showed that hardiness is more effective than optimism in helping people cope with stresses, by growing though them.”
I find Dr. Maddi’s ideas very interesting. I believe that optimism is an important factor in self confidence. I also like what Dr. Maddi has to say about hardiness. To me, it makes sense that hardiness – commitment to what one chooses to do, willingness to take control of one’s life, and welcoming challenges along the way – leads to self confidence.
I also believe that optimistic people are committed to what they choose to do, are willing to take control of their lives and welcome the challenges they encounter.
I am not going to quibble about whether optimism is different from hardiness, or if one is a subset of another. That’s a discussion better left for academics in pursuit of tenure.
However, there is a common sense point here. Self confident people are both optimistic and hardy. They commit to a course of action. They take control of their lives and they see challenges as growth opportunities.
That’s it for today. Thanks for reading. Log on to my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense. Check out my other blog: www.CommonSenseGuy.com for common sense advice on leading people and running a small business.
I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.
Bud
PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand – my fundraising page is still open. Please go to www.FirstGiving.com.TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can
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